KEY POINTS:
The party-pooping New Zealand Knights have the chance of dishing out more of the same in five of their six remaining A-League fixtures.
The 1-1 draw they took from the Newcastle Jets on Sunday could be a sign of things to come.
In denying the Jets all three
points and with it the chance to move into the top four, the Knights showed they could yet influence the race not only for the Hyundai A-League title but the scrap for the two places available in the Asian Champions League.
The Knights are the only team out of playoff contention, although Queensland Roar will be looking for a few results to fall their way.
Melbourne Victory - again out of sight and 13 points clear of Sydney FC - are certain of top spot in the January 26 major semifinal. But the scrap for the remaining three places will go to the wire with the Knights, if they can burgle some points, likely to have some influence.
They are away to Adelaide United on Sunday in a game which has more than passing interest for Adelaide coach John Kosmina and his team.
He will be still having nightmares over their round two 1-0 loss to the Knights and will only be a little happier when he looks back at their second meeting which they won 4-2 - the only time in 15 matches this season the Knights have scored more than one goal.
Adding to that pressure, the South Australians must bounce back from a 3-1 loss to Melbourne in front of 15,694 fans at Hindmarsh Stadium last weekend - the biggest crowd of the round.
The home side were soon in trouble when first-choice goalkeeper Robert Bajic was sent off after 13 minutes in an incident which resulted in a penalty.
Victory captain Kevin Muscat converted to join teammate Archie Thompson in second place in the golden boot race.
Both teams were reduced to 10 players seven minutes later when Grant Brebner was dismissed for a challenge on Ross Aloisi.
Fernando later headed home a 42nd-minute equaliser to keep Adelaide in with a shout.
But when golden boot leader Danny Allsopp scored in the 62nd minute for 2-1, the visitors regained control and completed the task four minutes from time when Fred scored.
Sydney lost ground when held to 0-0 away by Central Coast Mariners - the first time in 21 league matches Sydney have failed to score.
The home side, playing in front of 12,457 spectators at Bluetongue Stadium, enjoyed the advantage in attempts on goal, 12-10, possession, 51 per cent-49 per cent, and corners, 8-4, but could not convert half chances to beat their neighbours.
Queensland, with the support of most of the 11,237-strong crowd at Suncorp Stadium, had more attempts (21-16) on goal, more corners (5-4) but less possession (45 per cent) scoring the goal that mattered with Matt McKay's 80th-minute effort enough for a 1-0 win over Perth Glory.
All Whites midfielder Adrian Webster (Perth) was one of four players booked in the match.
In a definitive top-of-the-table clash on Friday night, Melbourne are at home to Sydney while Central Coast and Perth, both on 20 points, meet on Saturday in a game crucial to the play-off hopes for both teams.
